On the arrest of typhus fever by quinine / by Robert Dundas.

  • Dundas, Robert, active 19th century.
Date:
[1851]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the arrest of typhus fever by quinine / by Robert Dundas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    the following days, and a partial relapse has been the result; the tongue becoming rather dry and brown ; the prostration returning ; but still the patient is now (25th) in a far more favourable condition than he was anterior to the administration of the quinine. The second case, a woman named Galagher, 14 Collingwood-street, had been labouring under fever for several days. On the 20th, I found her in a state of great prostration, with well marked symptoms of low fever, with, I believe, pleuritic complication. The condition of the patient did not admit of auscultation, or a minute examination. General symptoms very similar to the first case. I ordered quinine in ten-grain doses, and a blister to the chest. The next day, she ex- pressed herself much better ; the s}Tnptoms had evidently given way. The quinine was continued, and she is now in a fair way of recovery. I have tried the plan in a third case of low continued fever, -with dry brown tongue, etc.; but unfortunately, from the first, the medi- cine Avas not given regularly, or in the quantities ordered; still, what would be considered a large quantity of quinine Avas taken, and with a decidedly beneficial effect, although not to the same extent as in the other two cases. *'In the first case, the decided eff'ect on the objective symptoms of the disease, in tv)enty-four hours, was so striking as at once to con- vince me of the value and importance of the remedy; and this improved condition was produced without the collateral adA'antages of ventila- tion, cleanliness, nursing, nutritious diet, or stimulants,—a fact Avhich greatly enhances the value of this mode of treatment, in the hands of those Avho, unhappily, have to contend with the disease under the most unfavourable circumstances. I have Avitnessed the results of various methods of treating fever, in several hundreds of cases, during the epidemic of 1847, in our Fever Hospital, and on board the Fever Ships in the Mersey, and subse- quently in the toAvn; but I haA^e never found any remedy, or remedies, Avhich appeared to me to cut short the disease, or modify the symp- toms, in the same decided manner in which the quinine has done when fairly tried. I hope shortly to be able to give you reports of more cases, as I shall continue to adopt your system, the importance of which cannot, I think, be overrated. I remain, etc., A. B. Steele, Late Surgeon to the Fever Hospital, Medical Superintendent of the Irish Quarantine and Fever Ships in the Mersey. P.S. I forgot to state that Lawrence. Connor had, by mistake, fifteen grains instead of ten grains of quinine for the first four doses. I have just received the folloAving communication from my accom- plished friend, Mr. Eddowcs,i which, with his valuable cases, prevents the necessity of my adverting (as Avas otherAvise my intention) to the very important question of tgphus with complications. By the kindness of Dr. Gee and Mr. EddoAves, I observed these cases Avhilst under treatment, and to both gentlemen I am, for this advantage, verv deculv indebted. ^ ^ ' Tlio zniil, i III I'll if,'..!ncn, arifl oiiiiiiciiM.v prui-ticiil niind ,,t' Mr. Kddowos, marks liim out, as oiiG of tlioso iru n who arc .l.'slitiefl to advance the profossum.